By GRACE AUDU, Abuja –
As part of measures to decongest the markets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and further check the spread of COVID-19, market operations have been extended from three days a week to all 7 days in the week from 7:00am to 6:00pm effective from Thursday, 30th July 2020.
This was one of the resolutions reached at the end of deliberations during a virtual meeting between members of the FCT COVID-19 Response Team, senior members of the Administration and members of the Coalition of FCT Market Chairmen and Secretaries led by its Chairman Mr Raphael Okorie.
The meeting, which was chaired by the Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello had considered the request by the Coalition of FCT Market Chairmen and Secretaries for the operational days of FCT markets to be extended to all 7 days of the week as against the 3 days weekly that is currently in effect.
Other resolutions reached consequent upon this meeting were that:
ii. The Abuja Market Management Limited and various market associations will continue to carry out sensitization activities to enlighten market users on COVID-19 and the necessity of obeying all extant health and safety protocols.
iii. Access to the markets and operations within the markets will only be permitted with the wearing of facial coverings and adherence to all extant health and safety guidelines inclusive of hand washing and maintenance of physical distancing.
Anthony Ogunleye, the Chief Press Secretary in the FCTA, who was at the meeting said in a statement that failure by the Coalition of FCT Market Chairmen and Secretaries to fully implement these guidelines, the FCTA would however be compelled to withdraw this extension.
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